Valve cage



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,163

w. N. M GEE VALVE CAGE Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l k? 25- 20 2/ i l Z? I. l v

i 24 W h 24 P I l I 5 5 lo I i /7@ l L /0 Inventor i YAZZBLMCLGee I l Amrngy -Jan. 8, 1929.

1,698,163 W. N. M GEE VALVE CAGE Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIEKNOEL MAGEE,.OF HAYNESVILLE, LOUISIANA.

VALVE CAGE.

A Application filed June 23,

7 My invention relates to valve cages for'use in Working barrels of oil Wells and has for its object to interpose a device of this character in the pump rod of the well normally preventing the downward flow of fluid therein while the pump rod is being operated, but which may be opened topreventthe return of the oil in the upper portion of the casing to the well whenever it is desired. to withdraw the pump rod or casing therefrom. I

It is frequently necessary during the pumping operation totpull the pipe or casing from the well in order torepair or replace the parts of the pump rod, such as the pump valve, and unless some means is provided for permitting the oil in the upper portion of the casing to return to the well the same becomes wasted as the various sections of the casing are withdrawn. Such waste may amount to from twelve to fifteen barrels of oil each time the casing is withdrawn, which frequently occurs every day or two. My invention, therefore, isdirected to prevent such waste by permitting the oil in the upper part of the easing to return to the well and by so doing it is apparent that the weight of the casing is greatly decreased, thereby enabling the same to be more readily withdrawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide means extending outwardly, of the well 7 for operating the valve within the cage while the same is suspended downwardly within the well. 7

Another object is to provide a valve cage of this character which is simple in construction, strong and durable, reliable in perform ance, and inexpensive to manufacture and install. v

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction, combination and arrangement of the various elements forming the invention as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing my valve cage ready for attachment to a pump rod,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view there through showing the valvein closed position,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the valve in open position, 7

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rotating stem,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view upon the stem abutting the view taken along the,

a pump rod 8 or the like. Within the lower 8 end of the casing 5 is arranged a valve seat 9' upon which is arranged a ball valve 10, the ball being of a sufficiently reduced diameter to permit of a slight transverse movement thereof within the casing. Y

The upper end of the casing has an opening formed therein through which is inserted a stem 11 having a threaded upper end 12 for connecting with a pump rod section or the likeand an annular flange 13 arranged adja-. cent thereto and adapted to provide abutting means for the upper endof a coil spring- 14 arranged about the stem, the lower end of which is adaptedto rest upon the upper end 7 i of the casing 5, the spring being arranged to maintain the stem 11 normally in outwardly extending position.

The lower end of the stem is of a reduced diameter and is provided with a pair of spirally arranged ribs 16 adapted to bevertically slidahle within similarly formed grooves 17 formed in the opening at the upper end of the casing 5. In this manner a tight fit is provided'for the stem within the opening but at the same time will permit of the rotation of the stem independent of the casing.

At the lower end of the stem within the casing is arranged a collar, 18 being fixedly ses cured thereto by a key 19 or the like carried by the stem. The lower face of the collar 18 is formed with a series of ratchet teeth 20' engaging similar teeth formed on the upper face of a collar 21 freely mounted on the end of said stem; The collar 21 is prevented, from removal from the stem by a transversely arranged pin 22. A coil spring 23 is arranged end of the casing and the collar 18 whereby to retain the ratchet teeth 20 of the respective collars in engaged position.

A hollow shell 241- is integrally formed on the lower edge of the collar 21 extending downwardly within the casing and having a plurality of vertically formed slots 25 adapted to regisfien with the slots 610i said casing. The sleeve 24 is adapted to form a tight fit within the casing so-that when the valve is arranged in closed position the intervening sections between the slots of the sleeve will serve to form a closure for the slots 6 of the casing. At one side of the sleeve 1 provide a downwardly dependingarm 26 formed of spring-likematerial with its lower end. free to move inwardly with respect to the sleeve. At the lower end of the arm is formed a lug ZThaving a. substantially beveled edge atone side thereof whereby upon contact thereof with an edge done of the slots 6 the lug and the lower end of the arm will be .iorced inwardly whereby to engage the ball and move the same away fromits seat 9. With the device in normal operating position as shown in Figure 201? the drawing, the pump rod may be freely operated to pump the oil from the well without permitting any return of the oil to the well when the ball 10 and the sleeve 24: are in closed position with respect to the casing 5 Whenever it is desired to withdrawthe pump rod from the well the oil col.- lected in the upper part of the casing above my valve cage mechanism will be permitted to' return to the well by slightly rotating the upper end of the pump rod so as to register the slots 25 in the sleeve 2 with the slots 6 of the casing: Such rotary movement fur the!" operates to move the lugQT against the edgeof one of the slots 6 thereby forcing the same inwardly a ainst theball 10 so as to unseat the same. ft is further obvious that the parts maybe returned to normally closed position by a further rotation of the upper end or the pump rod.

It is obvious'that the invention is suscept-i'hle to various changes and modifications without diepartingfrom the spirit thereofor' the scope of the appended claims and I ac' cordingly claim all such forms of thedevice to" which I am entitled.

I claim:

1. A valve cage comprisinga casing having a plurality of slots formed therein, a valve operativel'y arranged in the lower end thereof, a: stem extending from the upper. end of sac-id casing,

Within the casing andlreleasably engagezible with said stem and having slot-s adapted tothe same upon the alining of said slots and permitting theclosing of said valve upon the movement of saidslots out of alinement 2. A val've cage comprising a casing having a plurality of slots arranged therein, a

ball valve arranged in the lower end of said means yieldably supporting a the sametherein, a sleeve rotatably arran ed casing, a stem slidably arranged in the upper end of the casing and yieldably carried therein, a collar fixedly carried on the lower end of said stem, a collar freely mounted on the stern, means; carried by said collars releasably engaging the same, a sleeve formed on one of said collars arranged within the casing and having a plurality of slots adapted to be moved intoalinement with the slots in the casing, an arm carried by said last named collar having its lower end movable into and out of engagement with the ball of said valve and a lug formedon said arm engageable with the casing co-acting with said valve 'whereby to open or close the same uponthe movement of the slots in the sleeve and the casing into or out of alined position.

A valve cage adapted to be interposed in a pump rod and havinga plurality of slots formed therein, a ball valve operatively arranged in the lower end of said cage, a stem arranged slidably in the upper end of the cage and yieldably supported therein, a collar fixedly mounted on the lower end of the stem within the cave a collar freel 'carn a y ried on the end of the stem within the cage, meansreleasably connectin the collars for simultaneous rotation, a s eeve formed on said freely mounted collar arranged within the cage and having a plurality of slots adapted to be alined with the slots of the cage, an arm formed on said collar and a lug on said arm co-acting with the slots of the cage whereby to move the valve into open position upon the a-lining of said slots.

4:. A valve cage for pump rods and the like comprising a tubular casing having a plurality of slots formed: therein, aqball valve arranged inthe lower end of said casing, a stem slidably arranged in the upper end of the;

casing, a spring arranged on thestem engaging the casing whereby to normally maintain the same in outwardly extended position, a collar fixedly secured to the lower end of'the stem within the casing, a. collar freely mounted on said stem beneath said first named collar, ratchet teeth formed on the opposing faces of said collars, a sprin arranged on the stem within the casing'yiel dahly iorcingthe upper collar into engagement with the lower collar whereby to cause the snnultaneous rotation thereof, a sleeve formed on said lower collar extendlng downwardly Wltllllr the easing and having slots formed therein adapted to be moved lnto and out of almement with the slots in the casing, an arm fiexibly attached to the lower collar and a lug formed at the lower end thereof coactmg with the slots in the cage whereby to move the valve into open position upon the alining of said slots. V

In testimony whereof]? affix my signature.

WILLIE NOEL MAGEEL 

